The Eisner Award
The Eisner Award
Embedded Files
The Eisner Award, often referred to as the "Oscars of the comic book industry," was established in 1988 and is named in honor of the legendary cartoonist Will Eisner, a pioneer of the graphic novel format. Administered by Comic-Con International, the award celebrates creative achievement in American comic books and graphic storytelling. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding work across a wide range of categories, including Best Writer, Best Artist, Best New Series, and more, spotlighting both established professionals and emerging talent. The Eisner Awards are given annually, with winners announced during a high-profile ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con each summer. The awards not only honor artistic and literary excellence but also help elevate the status of comics as a serious and diverse storytelling medium.
Reading List
Please read:
If you choose to explore this award, please select two books from the list below to read. You will be responsible for sharing these titles with your classmates as part of our module discussion.
Next, identify two additional books from the list to evaluate for potential purchase. (See Canvas for more information about the evaluation process for this course.)
Don’t forget, you can learn more about each title by checking our course inclusivity audit. Please also review my note about content warnings for specific books.
⭐️ Jennifer Recommends: I’ve added stars to a few titles that are personal favorites. There is no expectation that you select these books.
⭐️ As I Dream of You
⭐️ As I Dream of You
Jennifer Lee and LeUyen Pham
2026
⭐️ A Smile Like Yours
⭐️ A Smile Like Yours
Emily Thomas
2026
Olive
Olive
Véro Cazot and Lucy Mazel
2026
⭐️ Skating Wilder
⭐️ Skating Wilder
Brandon Dumais and AJ Dungo
2026
How to Survive the End of the World
How to Survive the End of the World
Katy Doughty
2026
Luna Express
Luna Express
Campbell Whyte
2026
⭐️ Wake Now In The Fire
⭐️ Wake Now In The Fire
Jarrett Dapier and AJ Dungo
2026
Red Stones: A Graphic Account of the Salvadoran Civil War
Red Stones: A Graphic Account of the Salvadoran Civil War
Ernesto Saade
2026
Landing In Place
Landing In Place
Sherine Hamdy and Myra El Mir
2026
Everything Amplified
Everything Amplified
Sarah Lippett and Ziggy Hanaor
2026
Bad Kid: My Life as a "Troubled Teen"
Bad Kid: My Life as a "Troubled Teen"
Sofia Szamosi
2026
To All The Boys I've Loved Before (Manga Adaption)
To All The Boys I've Loved Before (Manga Adaption)
Jenny Han, Barbara Perez Marquez, Akimaro and Li Lu
2026
Fall In Love, You False Angels v1-5*
Fall In Love, You False Angels v1-5*
Coco Uzuki
2025
*Select one volume
⭐️ Song of a Blackbird
⭐️ Song of a Blackbird
Maria van Lieshout
2025
Strange Bedfellows
Strange Bedfellows
Ariel Slamet Ries
2025
Silenced Voices
Silenced Voices
Pablo Leon
2025
⭐️ Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love)
⭐️ Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love)
Laura Gao
2025
⭐️ Hunger's Bite
⭐️ Hunger's Bite
Taylor Robin
2025
Want to read something that is not on this list?
If you would like to swap a book from this list for one of your own choosing, you must:
Contact Jennifer (via Canvas) at least a week in advance with your suggested swap. Remember! In order to qualify for substitution, the book you select must:
qualify for the given award
have been published in the previous 24 months
be written for a YA audience
Keep in mind that some books appear on multiple award lists.
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